3. How many exams will I need to take?
There are three exams: (a) two qualifying exams in the areas of algebra, real analysis and topology, and (b) one preliminary exam in the area connected to your dissertation research.

4. Will I be teaching a class as part of my stipend duties?
Baylor requires that you have 18 units of graduate credit before teaching a class. If you have less than the 18 units, you will serve in the Mathematics Tutorial Lab and grade homework papers for professors. During the second year of graduate education, you may be given an undergraduate course to teach, such as pre-calculus or business calculus.

5. What will these qualifying exams cover?
These exams cover the material in the two-semester course with the same title. The instructors of the course will typically be on the qualifier exam committee, so you will know what to study.

6. Does Baylor pay for health insurance?
If you are a teacher of record, you pay $200 per year for health insurance. If you are not a teacher of record, the annual charge for Baylor's basic health insurance plan is $1,424. Additional health insurance rates (such as rates for other family members) you can find at: www.academichealthplans.com/baylor/

8. What is considered to be a full course load?
We expect you to enroll in 3 courses per semester. The Graduate Director will advise you on this, but a good strategy is to complete the list of core courses within the first two years of study. You can then begin to focus on your preferred areas

9. How long is the Ph.D. degree program?
Most of our students complete the Ph.D. degree in 5 years. If your undergraduate mathematics background is solid and you work hard, you should have no problem finishing the degree in this 5 year period.